Chapter 4: Ancient Korea
A mural painting at the Samsil Tomb shows two warriors engaged in a face-to-face match in an apparent Subak stance. Another painting at the same tomb shows the scene of an apparent Korean wrestling bout, which some feel clearly distinguishes it from the Subak painting.
Some also cite, as evidence of early Taekwondo history, the Buddhist images inscribed on the Keumkang Ginat Tower at the Sokkuram Cave in the Pulkuk-Sa Temple, in Kyongju (see figure 2). These two giant Buddhist "diamond warrior" stone relief carvings from the Silla Dynasty (circa 751 AD) show the warrior Kum Kang Yuksa posing fiercely with one hand stretched low and the other held near his ear in a fist, protecting Buddhism from devils. Archaeologists have discovered these relatively common images across Buddhist Asia, from India to China and Korea. They actually portray Buddhist guardian deities, called Vajradhara in Sanskrit. Lee Yong-bok writes, The In Wang statues (Kum-kang Yuksa) are from China and India; they are not evidence of Korean martial arts. Lee explains that both guardians originally held a spear in their hands, but when the images were transplanted to Korea, artists did not replicate the weapons. The resulting clenched hands resemble closed fists, thus appearing as empty-hand martial arts poses (1990:47). Had the spears been reproduced, those who argue that the statues are in martial poses might not be so insistent. Some believe the position of these giants represent the early developments of Subak. The present day poomse (form/pattern) "Keumgang" is named for these warriors and it uses the double blocks they depict.
In reality, the Kumkang Yuksa have no relationship to martial arts. Archaeologists have discovered these relatively common images across Buddhist Asia, from India to China and Korea. They actually portray Buddhist guardian deities, called Vajradhara in Sanskrit. Some think that both guardians originally held a spear in their hands, but when the images were transplanted to Korea, artists did not replicate the weapons. The resulting clenched hands resemble closed fists, thus appearing as empty-hand martial arts poses. Had the spears been reproduced, those who argue that the statues are in martial poses might not be so insistent.